Middle East needs 2,500 new aircraft over next 20 years

The Middle East will need 2,500 new passenger and freight aircraft over the next 20 years, according to Airbus. The plane maker says traffic in the region will grow by 6%, well above the world average of 4.6%. Business trips and holidays are expected to fuel domestic and regional growth, as the number of megacities increases from four to nine. Latest estimates say the region’s aviation industry supports two million jobs and contributes $116 billion in GDP.